Personal Space

I am not a touchy-feely kind of person. I MAKE myself hug friends and relatives, etc--I am NOT naturally comfortable with such an act. (Don't NOT hug me because of this, please, I still love you!)

Maybe I feel this way because I spend so much time alone, or maybe because of the upbringing I had, I don't know. What I DO know is this--when someone enters my personal space "bubble" it REALLY bugs me!

I was in Blockbuster looking for a movie to rent and someone walked close to me, less than half my arm's length away (and I have short arms!). It makes me so uncomfortable! I understood that the person was looking for a movie, but come on!

Elevators I'm getting used to because I use them at work so much--but, when they are crowded I can just feel my heart rate speed up.

Even in my marriage, I was a "space-needing" person. I kept to my half of the bed, I didn't much snuggle during movies. I DID seem to do lots of hand-holding, very nice (smile).

So I have questions: Is it okay to be somewhat aloof, I suppose physically speaking? Is lots of space a bad thing? Does it mean I have issues with socialization? (shrug) I guess the standard answer is "do what makes you most comfortable". But, what about the comfort of others? Will my needs to have breathing room, lots and lots of it, hurt those close to me?

I hope not, but I can't see myself changing much over time. Though...when I spent time with my niece Alexis, my boundaries seemed to disappear temporarily. She's so amazingly cute!

Ah, well...stuff to think about then. Ciao.